Where Was the Orange Bowl Located? Full History & Current Venue

By Sarah Miller · December 10, 2050

The Orange Bowl has primarily been located in Miami, Florida, with its current home at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens since 1996.

History and Location of the Orange Bowl

The Orange Bowl is one of college football’s most prestigious bowl games, historically held in Miami, Florida. Over the years, the game has been hosted at several venues, but it has consistently remained within the greater Miami area.

Key Venues Where the Orange Bowl Was Held

Burton W. Cumming Stadium (1935–1937): Originally known as Roddey Field, this was the first venue for the Orange Bowl game.
Miami Field (1938–1949): A small on-campus stadium used by the University of Miami.
Miami Orange Bowl Stadium (1950–2007): The iconic outdoor stadium in downtown Miami that gave the game its name. It hosted the Orange Bowl for over five decades.
Hard Rock Stadium (1996–present, primary venue): Located in Miami Gardens, this modern NFL-style stadium replaced the old Orange Bowl stadium as the main host site.

Modern Era: Hard Rock Stadium

Since 1996, the Orange Bowl has predominantly taken place at Hard Rock Stadium, which is also home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The shift marked a transition from a smaller, historic venue to a state-of-the-art facility capable of hosting major national events, including Super Bowls, international soccer matches, and championship college football games.

Features of Hard Rock Stadium

Capacity: Over 65,000 for football games
Location: 347 Don Shula Dr, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
Tenants: Miami Dolphins (NFL), Miami Hurricanes (NCAA), Miami Open (tennis)
Hosted: Multiple Super Bowls, College Football Playoff games, and FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Venue	Years Hosted	Location	Capacity (approx.)	Notable Games
Burton W. Cumming Stadium	1935–1937	Miami, FL	10,000	First Orange Bowl Game (1935)
Miami Field	1938–1949	Miami, FL	14,000	Early expansion era games
Miami Orange Bowl	1950–2007	Downtown Miami, FL	74,000	1984 Orange Bowl (Nebraska vs. Miami)
Hard Rock Stadium	1996–present	Miami Gardens, FL	65,326	2001 BCS National Championship, CFP Semifinals

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows a clear evolution in venue size and capability, reflecting the growing prestige and commercial scale of the Orange Bowl. While early stadiums were modest and locally focused, modern facilities like Hard Rock Stadium support national broadcasts, premium seating, and global audiences. The relocation to Miami Gardens allowed for better traffic flow, parking, and infrastructure upgrades essential for large-scale events.

Why the Orange Bowl Moved Locations

The decision to move from the original Miami Orange Bowl stadium to Hard Rock Stadium was driven by several factors:

Aging Infrastructure: The downtown stadium lacked modern amenities and faced structural limitations.
NFL Commitments: The Miami Dolphins required a venue compliant with NFL standards.
Expansion Needs: Growing fan demand necessitated larger capacity and luxury suites.
Urban Development: Downtown land became more valuable for redevelopment projects.

In 2008, the original Miami Orange Bowl stadium was demolished, cementing Hard Rock Stadium as the permanent home of the game.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Orange Bowl Location

Where is the Orange Bowl game played now?

The Orange Bowl is currently played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a northern suburb of Miami. This has been the primary venue since 1996.

Was the Orange Bowl always in Miami?

Yes, the Orange Bowl has always been held in the Miami metropolitan area. Although the exact venue has changed, it has remained within the region since its inception in 1935.

What was the original location of the Orange Bowl?

The first Orange Bowl game was played at Burton W. Cumming Stadium (also known as Roddey Field) in 1935. Later, it moved to the Miami Orange Bowl stadium in downtown Miami, which became its most famous location.

Why did the Orange Bowl leave the Miami Orange Bowl stadium?

The Orange Bowl left the downtown Miami stadium due to aging infrastructure, lack of modern amenities, and the need for a larger, more versatile venue. The stadium was demolished in 2008 after being replaced by Hard Rock Stadium.

Is Hard Rock Stadium the same as the Miami Orange Bowl?

No, Hard Rock Stadium is not the same as the historic Miami Orange Bowl stadium. They are two different venues. Hard Rock Stadium is located in Miami Gardens and serves as the current host, while the original Orange Bowl was in downtown Miami and no longer exists.